Unpicking Loops of Colour’s
Design Process
Emotive Palettes
Rooted in mood, shaped by colour, and guided by instinct, each piece begins with feeling and ends in joyful, limited-edition form. Join me as I trace the thread from first palette to final stitch.
Every Loops of Colour piece begins with a feeling; a strong desire to create something that sparks joy, oozes comfort, and adds a burst of playful energy to your wardrobe. I take inspiration from the ever-changing landscape of the Scottish Borders: soft rolling hills, dramatic skies, and joyful bursts of seasonal colour.
But at the heart of it all is this simple idea:
How do you want to feel when you wear it?
1: Inspiration is everywhere:
Where mood and feeling spark the first colours.
Whether I’m walking among lambs in the fields or exploring an art exhibition, I’m always collecting ideas. Colour, pattern, and texture are all around us, if you take the time to notice the little details.
My creative process usually begins with a theme and some instinctive colour play. I make swatches, pair yarns, and explore how texture and shades interact.
My approach to colour is intuitive, much like a child at play. There are no rules, just joyful experimentation. It’s a process that feels almost therapeutic at times, rooted in instinct and emotion. In art therapy and colour psychology, colour is known to evoke feeling and memory. For me, colour is a way to connect: to the landscape, to emotion, and to the person who will eventually wear the piece.
I’m especially inspired by the work of Bernat Klein, who once said:
“To design is to enjoy the exploration of new possibilities.”
That philosophy lives at the heart of everything I create.
2: Curating the Palette
Selecting hues that tell a story and evoke emotion.
Once I’ve settled on a core palette—one that reflects the spirit of the season and the Loops of Colour ethos—I relax into what I call my seasonal rhythm. While I don’t work with fixed colours, I do draw from a tonal pool that I return to time and again; grounding greens, bold reds, calming blues, joyful yellows. These shades aren’t always the same, but they carry the same emotional energy.
I think of it as my emotional palette, a feeling I revisit, season after season. As a customer, you’ll find the colours are familiar but always subtly different, giving each collection a sense of continuity without repetition. This lets me explore a spectrum of hues and playful contrasts within that palette, curating joyful pairings that keep each piece fresh, vibrant, and full of life!
3. Thoughtful Material Choices
Sourcing limited-edition surplus fibres that bring colour to life sustainably.
Sustainability is looped into every decision I make. All of my pieces are made from high-quality surplus lambswool and cashmere, sourced from local mills here in Scotland.
Working with end-of-line yarns keeps waste out of landfill and ensures that every piece is a true limited edition. While I can’t always recreate exact colour matches from previous seasons, I love the ever-changing nature of this process. It makes each piece truly one of a kind—a living work of art.
4. Sketching & Sampling
Transforming colour ideas into playful patterns and tactile experiments.
Once the palette feels right, I begin sketching and punching patterns to knit samples. Because I work exclusively with surplus yarn sourced from local mills, the sampling stage is shaped just as much by what’s available as by what I envision. Each piece becomes a conversation between colour, texture, and constraint. Limited edition by nature and by intention!
Using my hand-powered knitting machines, I play with stitch patterns, fabric structure, and scale until each sample feels just right: soft, wearable, and balanced. I always leave space for the unexpected, those happy accidents often lead to designs even better than I’d planned.
5. The Flow of Craft
Immersed in creation, finding joy and focus in the creative process.
During the design and making process, I often find myself entering what’s called the “flow state”—a term introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It’s that feeling when you’re so immersed in creating that time seems to vanish. You’re calm, focused, and utterly present. For me, this happens most when I’m knitting, experimenting, and solving design challenges—it’s one of the greatest joys of my work.
6.Bringing Loops to Life: The Art of Making in Scotland
Knitting each piece with care, guided by rhythm and happy accidents.
Each piece is knitted by me on my hand-powered machine, then finished entirely by hand. Every edge, every seam, every detail is carefully considered, ensuring comfort, longevity, and a polished finish.
For items that require specialist machinery—like my cashmere socks or fully fashioned gloves—I collaborate with a small, trusted Scottish knitwear manufacturer. They share my values of craftsmanship passed down through generations, quality, transparency, and sustainability. This partnership allows me to expand the collection while keeping production local and ethical, boosting my hometown’s economy.
Independent, Collaborative, and Sustainably Crafted—that’s how each piece comes to life.
7. Finishing with Finesse
Adding the details that turn a sample into a joyful, wearable piece.
Once the knitting is complete, every item is gently washed using the soft water of the Scottish Borders, a quiet but essential ingredient that’s long been prized by local mills for its ability to bring out the natural softness of wool. After steaming and shaping, each piece is quality-checked by hand.
Even the labels are thoughtfully chosen: British-made satin, soft enough for the most delicate skin. This is especially important for baby knits and sensitive wearers.
Designed to Be Adored.
The result? A piece that’s designed not just to be worn, but to be loved, cherished, and enjoyed for years to come.
Loops of Colour
Independent, Collaborative, and Sustainably Crafted in Scotland.
If you’ve felt a connection to my story, I’d love for you to stay in the loop.
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Follow the Colour Journey
See the process in motion, enjoy behind-the-scenes peeks, and soak up daily bursts of inspiration.